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Man faces multiple charges following incident at Kum & Go

Posted 9/29/10 (Wed)

By Neal A. ShipmanFarmer Editor

Brock Savelkoul, 28, of Minot is currently being held in the McKenzie County Jail after brandishing firearms at the Kum & Go convenience store in Watford City and leading area law enforcement officers on a high speed chase.
According to Slade Herfindahl, Watford City Police chief, at approximately 7:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 21, his office was advised of a traffic complaint involving a vehicle traveling westbound toward Watford City on North Dakota Highway 23 at a high rate of speed. While officers were on the look-out for the reported vehicle, the Watford City Police Department received a report of a man with firearms at the Kum & Go convenience store.
“A responding officer located the reported vehicle traveling southbound on Main Street South at a high rate of speed and was being driven erratically,” stated Herfindahl. “The officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and a pursuit ensued.”
During the pursuit, according to Herfindahl, the suspect vehicle traveled at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. While traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 85, the vehicle traveled recklessly at a high rate of speed through two construction zones.
The pursuit ended in Billings County near mile marker 106 on U.S. Highway 85 when the suspect vehicle became inoperable.
At that point, a two-hour armed standoff took place between Savelkoul and law enforcement officers.
Savelkoul, according to Herfindahl, made suicidal statements, brandished firearms and discharged firearms two times into the ground and his vehicle.
Savelkoul was eventually taken into custody when a Watford City Police Officer deployed his Taser.
Several firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition were recovered from Savelkoul and his vehicle.
Savelkoul was arrested for Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, a Class C Felony, and Reckless Driving, a Class B Misdemeanor. He was also subsequently charged with Reckless Endangerment, a Class C Felony, and Terrorizing, a Class C Felony, by the McKenzie County State’s Attorney.
Witnesses at the Kum & Go convenience store allege that Savelkoul entered the store carrying a rifle and a handgun and pointed the handgun at an individual inside of the store and other individuals outside of the store. Savelkoul did not attempt to rob the Kum & Go convenience store.
Savelkoul is currently in custody at the McKenzie County Jail. Bond has been set at $20,000.00 cash or corporate surety.
Law enforcement agencies involved in this incident include the Watford City Police Department, the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office, the Billings County Sheriff’s Office, the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, the North Dakota Game & Fish Department and the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association.